A summer trip to the hills ended in catastrophe for a family from Multan today.
At least 10 people were killed and 13 others injured when their tourist van crashed and burst into flames at Khajat on the Murree Expressway, officials confirmed. Murree Motorway Police and the district administration confirmed all victims belonged to the same family, traveling together from Multan to Murree.
One family. One van. One trip to the hills. And 10 people are gone.
How the Accident Happened at Khajat
The tragedy unfolded when the Toyota Hiace van, traveling at high speed, failed to negotiate a turn near Khajat and collided with a safety barrier.
ARY News confirmed DPO Dr. Muhammad Raza explained that the force of the impact caused an immediate fuel leak. The spilled fuel ignited almost instantly, engulfing the entire vehicle in flames before most passengers could escape. Samaa TV reported that the van fell into a roadside drain after the crash, which trapped several passengers inside.
Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Shirazi confirmed the accident occurred due to high speed and an engine fire. The Motorway Police spokesperson noted overspeeding as the primary cause — though a mechanical failure has not been ruled out pending full investigation.
23 People in One Van: The Dangerous Reality Nobody Wants to Talk About
The most shocking detail of this crash is the passenger count.
Initial reports confirmed that 23 tourists were packed into the single Toyota Hiace. These vans are designed to carry 12 to 14 people safely at most. So these 23 passengers were traveling at nearly double the safe capacity, on mountain roads, through sharp turns.
The Frontier Post confirmed several passengers were unable to exit the vehicle immediately after the crash, which directly resulted in the high death toll. When a van is at double capacity, escape becomes almost impossible in the 30 to 60 seconds before fire takes over.
This is not just a road accident story. This is a story about how Pakistani families travel to tourist spots in overloaded, poorly maintained vehicles because there is no affordable alternative.
Rescue, Medical Response, and the Toll Rising
Initial reports confirmed four deaths. The number kept rising throughout the day.
The 13 survivors suffered severe burn injuries and were rushed to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad and Farooq Hospital. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed grief and on her instructions, administration and relief teams reached the accident site immediately. She directed authorities to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured at government expense.
DPO Dr. Muhammad Raza announced a full investigation into the cause — whether overspeeding, mechanical failure, or both.
My Personal Suggestion: This Keeps Happening Because Nobody Fixes It
I have covered multiple accidents on this stretch of road over the years. The story is always the same. We discuss overspeeding and “mechanical failure.” We express grief. We order an inquiry. And we wait for the next one.
The real problem is simpler and harder to fix simultaneously. A family in Multan saved money all year for a trip to Murree. They probably could not afford separate vehicles. So 23 people got into one van. That van hit a barrier, caught fire, and 10 of them died.
Until Pakistan enforces strict passenger limits on commercial tourist vehicles, conducts mandatory roadworthiness checks before Eid and summer tourism seasons, and provides affordable transport options for families traveling to northern areas — these tragedies will repeat.
This is also a connected concern to the broader Pakistan heatwave alert we have been tracking, as summer tourism surges create exactly these conditions where overloaded vehicles are most common on mountain roads. To the family in Multan: all of Pakistan grieves with you today.
24PakTimes will update this article as the investigation develops and the condition of the injured is confirmed.
